HANNAH, A GODLY MOTHER- -1 SAMUEL 1:1-2:11

HANNAH, A GODLY MOTHER

1 SAMUEL 1:1-2:11

Introduction:

Today we remember our mothers. Every great nation has had godly women who have born children and taught those children to love and honor God. Many times in the rearing of children there is great heartache and difficulty. These ladies did not throw up their hands and quit, but rather, they fought on and by the grace of God they succeeded.

Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, of the tribe of Ephraim, (1 Samuel 1). Hannah was one of two wives and she had no child. The other wife, Peninnah, tormented her because she had no family. However, Hannah prayed diligently that God would give her a son.

I. HANNAH’S SORROW, 1:1-10.

A. Elkanah was a godly man. One of his grandsons is mentioned later, as a singer in the Temple that Solomon built.

B. However, He had a divided home.

1. He had two wives.

2. The Lord permitted this, but it was not His will.

3. He loved Hannah, who was barren, v. 2, “And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.”

4. Hannah was Elkanah’s favorite, v. 5, “But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.”

5. At times the Lord does things in our life in order to teach to pray and depend on Him.

II. HANNAH’S SUPPLICATION, (1:11-19).

A. Hannah was a woman of prayer, vs. 10-18.

1. She presented her petition to the Lord.

2. Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk.

3. Hannah received God’s promise and was content, vs. 17-18, “Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 18And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.”

B. She did not bargain with the Lord.

1. She offered her best to the Lord.

2. Her husband apparently agreed, Numbers 30:6-7, “And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.”

3. She promised to dedicate him totally to God, v. 11, “And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”

a. He was to be given to the Lord.

b. He was to be a Nazarite (The word denotes generally one who is separated from others and consecrated to God. The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things:

(1) Abstinence from wine and strong drink,

(2) Refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow, and…

(3) The avoidance of contact with the dead.). Generally the vow lasted only about 100 days.

4. God blessed her even more, v. 21, “And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.”

III. HANNAH’S SURRENDER, (1:20-28).

A. “SAMUEL” = Asked the LORD.

B. DEDICATED =

1. Weaned at 3 years of age.

2. Three bullocks were offered:

a. Sin offering.

b. Burnt offering.

c. Special offering – probably for the Nazarite vow, Numbers 15:8, “And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the LORD:”

3. “For this child I prayed,” v. 27, “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:”

C. “LENT” to the Lord, v. 28, “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.”

1. At three years of age Samuel was given back to God.

2. Hannah’s life was fulfilled.

CONCLUSION

In our day women are not fulfilled unless they have a job outside of the home.

Our nation is suffering from the “housewife / mother” syndrome. Many look down on a woman who is content to be a mother and housewife.

However, it is interesting to me that so many women are finding out that life without a child and a good family life is not worth much and gives little satisfaction.

Hannah gave her son to God.